Let me tell you. The beach was amazing. My heart literally aches every time I come and write this “re-cap” post because while I’m happy to have the memories, I’m sad to keep moving on. Why can’t we just live at the beach cottage? Seriously.

Every summer – since I can remember being able to walk – we’ve gone to the same beaches. It truly is the greatest escape. Of course mostly now my sister and I agree that it’s more than 75-percent “for the kids,” but I don’t mind. It’s the happiest I’ve seen the kids in awhile, and for that I’ll take it.

I can’t get enough of the sea, the sand and driving my bike to town to pick up a few things. I wish life really was that simple, right? But alas, we must all grow up at some point and take care of ourselves…and others. I must admit some days of lugging everyone’s toys down what seemed like 100 steps and persistently trying to get a tiny one to take a nap (hey, she was like half-and-half…not shabby) seems so cumbersome, I reflect back now that I’m home and think about how those moments were just fine. And I love remembering beach moments more than anything in the world.

We sat in the sand…we painted pottery…we ate tacos. We did SO many amazing things. I’m so thankful for these moments with my family. It’s never been the same without my dad, but every year I do think of him as being there in some way. I smile to myself every time something reminds me of him. Which is often. Sometimes I think I myself am a carbon copy.

This year was the first year we didn’t take family photos. It just so happened I was sick with fever that night, our last night. It made me really sit quietly and think about the photos I’ve taken that you see here and candids on my camera – they’re just as great as any silly matching outfit photos could ever be (no offense, of course, to anyone reading because we did those for years). But these are my kids…in the moment. And I’m so, so thankful (especially now as a working mom) I got to spend this whole week with them.

I hope you all have a blessed week and great last couple of weeks of summer!

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33

hi, I’m Julie!

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